Eprinomectin treatment of psoroptic mange in hunter/jumper and dressage horses: a prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Abstract

The purpose of this prospective, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial was to investigate the efficacy of topical eprinomectin for the treatment of psoroptic mange infestation in horses. 24 privately owned hunter/jumper and dressage horses were diagnosed with psoroptic mange infestation based on physical findings and skin scraping results were enrolled and randomly assigned to either topical eprinomectin pour-on solution (at a dose of 500microg/kg body weight weekly once for four applications) treatment group or a placebo group (purified water). Clinical evaluations and skin scrapings were done by the same veterinary investigator at the beginning, during and at the end of the treatment. Both owners and veterinary investigator were blinded to the allocation to the groups. The efficacy of eprinomectin was assessed both clinically and parasitologically by the presence or absence of viable mites. Horses were scraped for psoroptic mites on days 7, 14, 21, 28 and 40 for follow-up. Fisher's exact test was used to assess differences between the eprinomectin treatment and placebo in the number of horses without mites (cure rates) on each assessment date. It was found that significantly fewer eprinomectin treated horses had P. equi mites detected on skin scrapings (p<0.01) than the placebo group. In conclusion, eprinomectin was effective and safe therapy against natural infestations of P. equi in the horses included in this study.

• Authors: K Ural, B Ulutas, S Kar
• Journal: Veterinary parasitology (Vet Parasitol) Vol. 156 Issue 3-4 Pg. 353-7 (Oct 01 2008) ISSN: 0304-4017 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 18667276 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Insecticides
• Ivermectin
• eprinomectin

Topics

• Animals
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Horse Diseases (drug therapy, parasitology)
• Horses
• Insecticides (therapeutic use)
• Ivermectin (analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Male
• Mite Infestations (drug therapy, veterinary)
• Psoroptidae